The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

ecollection of what had just taken place; and a littlelater on, he could not even recollect what had happenedthen. All his family were perfectly disgusted with him.Fortune-tellers were summoned, but their divinationsproved unsuccessful; Wizards were sought out, but theirexorcisms were ineffectual; physicians were called in, buttheir remedies were of no avail. At last a learnedprofessor from the Lu State volunteered his services,declaring that he could effect a cure. Hua-tzu's wife andfamily immediately offered him half their estate if onlyhe would tell them how to set to work. The professorreplied: “This is a case which cannot be dealt with bymeans of auspices and diagrams; the evil cannot beremoved by prayers and incantations, nor successfullycombated by drugs and potions. What I shall try to do isto influence his mind and turn the current of histhoughts; in that way a cure is likely to be broughtabout."Accordingly, the experiment was begun. The professorexposed his patient to cold, so that he was forced to begfor clothes; subjected him to hunger, so that he was fainto ask for food; left him in darkness, so that he wasobliged to search for light. Soon, he was able to reportprogress to the sons of the house, saying gleefully: “Thedisease can be checked. But the methods I shall employhave been handed down as a secret in my family, andcannot be made known to the public. All attendantsmust, therefore, be kept out of the way, and I must beshut up alone with my patient."The professor was allowed to have his way, and for the